Introduction to modern planetary and stellar astronomy. Frequent use is made of the planetarium and observatory. Intended for Physics and secondary education majors.

DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to modern planetary and stellar astronomy. Includes naked eye observations, telescopes, stellar astronomy, including the life history of stars, galaxies, cosmology, and modern planetary astronomy.

TOPICS:

Naked Eye observationsTelescopesLight and spectraProperties of starsStellar evolutionGalaxies and cosmologyThe solar system, its members, and origin

OBJECTIVES:

Be able to find the 20 brightest stars in the skyIdentify 25 constellationsDescribe the observations made by the ancient astronomers without the aid of a telescope.Describe observations made through modern telescopes that lead scientists to create theories of stellar evolution.Describe observations that led scientists to the formation of the Big Bang theory.Describe observation that led scientists to the modern theory of planet formation.